Lens-holder for headlights



' E. I. HOWARD, DECD. E- R. HOWARD, EXECUTRIX; A. THOMPSON, axscuroa or E. R. HOWARD, own.

LENS HOLDER FOR HEADLIGHTS- APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18, 1919.

1,344,695. Patented June 29, 1920.

My 51%? 7 Y k 6. W 13 MW Clix 011421.;

UNITED: STATES PATIENT orrlcs.

ELVERTON I. HOWARD, OF WESTFIELD, NEW YORK; R. HOVJARD EXEC'UTRIX OF SAID EL'VERTON I. HOWARD, DEOEA$ED; ALEXANDER THOMPSON EXECUTOR OF SAID ELSIE R. HOWARD, DEUE; "ED; ALEXANDER THGTvlfIS-QN. EXECUTGR, ASSIGNOR T0 PRIMOLITE COlVi'PAI-l' '1, JF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA,

LENS-HOLDER EEADLIGHTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patcntcd- June 29, 1920.

Application filed September 18, 1919. Serial No. 324,266.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, ELvEnroN I. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at the village of WVestfield, in thecounty of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improve keep the lens from turning or being'moved out of an adjusted position in said lamp by the constant joggling and shaking or other jars from a moving vehicle, and being attached to or a part of the lens itself, said lens can be shipped or otherwise handled without danger of dislodgement of said holding means; and the invention consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the front of the headlight with a refracting lens therein held at a plurality'ofpoints, preferably three, by the improved holding means, the rim being broken away atthe three points for said holding means for the front side, and also being brokenfaway at three other points for the use of said holding means on the rear side of said lens, the I disk shaped holding means on the rear side being shown in dotted outline through said lens. Fig. 2 is a sectional view at line 2-2 in Fig. 1 of one form of lamp rim, showing the frictional holding means or disk on the front side of the lens. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the lens, and may be taken for either a rear or a front view, that is, at either line 5-5 or line 2-2 in Fig. 1, showing the cavity in the edge portion of said lens with the same shaped resilient lens a holder or disk at one side ready to be inserted in the cavity. Fig. 4 is sectional .view of the edgeportion the lens at line 22 in Fig. 1 showing in slightly enla form the holding disk in the front of rim portion ofthe lens as in Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a sectionalview-at line 5 in l ig. 1 showing the resilient lens holder in the rear side of said lens.

Like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views. The numerallO designates the lens which is made of cast glass with the prismatic or other diffusing means or formations therein.

and the edge or rim portion 11 extending around the same. I 7

In order to fit said lens to the manydifferent formsof lamps now onthe market so'as to adapt the lens holding means toall of the'diflerent constructions of lamp rims, a'plurality of cavities 12 on the front side and 13 on the rear side are presscdor cast into the glass lenslO at spaced distances from one another, preferably equi-distant and three in number on each side. Said cavities are preferably disk shaped though they may be any other desired shape without departing from my invention.

The lens holding disks or blocks 14 are provided which fit interchangeably within the cavities 12 or 13 so that they may be changed to fit any form of lamp rim and hold the lens 10 firmly thereunder. The lens holding disks or blocks 14 are preferably.

made of good resilient rubber of the quality called self-vulcanizing which adheres of itselfto the glass within the cavities 12 or 13. I

They are preferably about three-eighths inch in diameter by about one-eighth inch in thickness and slightlyilarger than the cavities 12 or 13 so as to need compression into said cavities in order to insert the same to thereby hold them firmly in position in the lens 10 during shipment and installation.

When so compressed intothe cavities 12 or .13, the disks 14 act as additional packings which prevent the lens 10 from turning or being moved from an adjusted position.

The metal rim 15 of the headlight which is attached to the reflector 16 compresses the lens 10 and the holding disks 14 against the packing 17 on the rim ofthe reflector 16 if on the rear side, or against the rim 1.5 if on the front side.

In order to insure the firm holding of the lens 10, the lens holders or resilient disks 14L are arranged for insertion in the cavities 12 or 13 on either the front or rear sides of said lens according to the construction of the lamp rim. The lens 10 is mounted by placing one holding disk let at the exact vertical center of the rim of the reflector 16, in which position said lens will be mounted so thatthe crosswise prisms or other light dii'l using means will retract the light on the roadway in perfect alinement as designed.

It is apparent that the cavities 12 and i3 may be cast or pressed in the lens at the time that it receives its prismatic or refracting formations, and that the round disks or holding blocks 14 may be pressed into the cavities l2 and 13 thereby removably holding said disks firmly therein for shipment and installation of said lens 10 in the'lamp. Though the invention is simple, it performs its ofii-ce as a resilient holding means for the lens 10 so that said lens cannot be joggled out of position or turned when installed in the lamp, at the same time providing a splendid cushion for the glass lens whether said disks lat are pressed against the packing 17 at the rear of the lens, or against the inner side oi? the rim 15 of the reflector 16 on the front. It isalso obvious that more than three of said spaced resilient lens holders may be used around the periphery of the lens 10 on either side if deemed advisable, though it has not been found necessary for lenses of the average weight and design.

I. claim as new:

1. A headht comprising a reflector, a lens for the 7. ant of said reflector, a metal rim to hold said lens around the outer edge portion thereoi, said outer edge portion having cavities therein, and resilient rubber blocks attached in said cavities to frictionally hold said lens from turning when under pressure of said rim.

In a lamp for vehicles, a reflector, a lens for the front of said reflector having a plurality of spaced cavities in the edge portion thereof, a packing between said lens andsaid. rei'le r, an attaching rim for the order side of sr d lens around the edge portion thereof, and resilient retaining blocks attached in said cavities to be compressed by said attaching rim to hold said lens from turning.

3. In a vehicle lamp, a reflector, a lens for the front oi said reflector having a plurality oi disk shaped cavities in both sides the edge portion thereof, a plurality of resilient disk shaped holding elements removably attached in said disk shaped openings, and a metal holding rim attached to said reflector to compress said holding elementsand prevent said lens from turning.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELVERTON I. HOlVARD.

Witnesses V. SWANSON, H. P. ANDERSON. 

